Machine for the manufacture of tube necks on headers



Feb. 27, 1962 A. HUET MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBE NECKS 0N HEADERS Filed March 16, 1959 2 INVENTOR:

FIG.3 E

United States Patent aware Filed Mar. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 799,606 3 Claims. (Cl. 153-2) The present invention relates to metal working and particularly to an improvement in apparatus for formmg tubular necks on headers utilized for fluid distribution.

One form of known machine for the manufacture of tube necks on headers has a punch disposed inside the header to be actuated by ahydraulic jack or piston bearing against the inside wall of the header so that the punch traverses the opposite wall to form a tube neck. The punch cooperates with die applied against the outside of the header all around the point where the tube neck is to be formed so as to shape it. In the case where a series of tube'necks are executed along one generatn'x.

of the header surface, the punch and its operating jack are shifted along at the inside of the header over the whole length of this generatrix of the surface.

If it is desired to obtain a ring of tube necks spaced circumferentially around the header ina plane perpendicular, or even at an angle, to therlongitudinal axis of the header, it is necessary to rotate the header. around its axis in order to successively execute all tube necks. As the jack has to rest on and bear against the inside wall of the header opposite the point'where the tube'neck is to 'be' formed, it is important that the wall on which-the jack bears is relative cool in order to resist the pressure. If it is then desired to form tube necks which are to be at 180 from those which have already been formed, it is necessary to wait until the header is sufliciently cooled off at the point of support, which delays the operation. On the other hand, the inside wall of the header has been perforated at points where tube necks have already been formed and can no longer be utilized to supply the jack with a sutliciently geometrical stable supporting surface.

In order to overcome these ditficulties, applicant has conceived an apparatus which according to the invention is especially intended to ensure the execution of a ring of tube necks on a header. A fundamental characteristic of this apparatus lies in that, instead of being arranged as in the machine briefly described above, the wall piercing punch remains fixed and immobile within the header while the outer die which is applied against the outside of the header is now the active member and, by coming down on the punch, presses the wall of the header against this fixed punch. This arrangement affords, as may be seen, the advantage of not requiring the use of a jack working against the inside wall of the header opposite a neck location in order to ensure the formation of a tube neck.

Furthermore, the apparatus is arranged to enable displacement of the header during fabrication of a tube neck by allowing the header to move down onto the punch. Means are also provided to permit the rotation of the header around its longitudinal axis so as to successively obtain a ring of tube necks in a plane perpendicular to, or at an angle to, the axis of the header..

The following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention will afford an understanding of the manner in which the invention can be executed.

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical cross-section of the apparatus and shows the extremity of a header inserted in the apparatus for formation of tube necks according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section on a larger scale on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the apparatus and header after formation of a tubeneck.

The neck forming apparatus embodying the invention consists mainly of a fixedpunch 10 supported in a removable manner in a support 12 having the shape of an anvil, thesupport 12 being an integral part of a base 13 solidly anchored to the ground. Positioned above and aligned with the axis of punch 10 there is a cross bar 14 providing a support for a neck shaping die 16. The cross bar 14 is sustained by two vertical guide-ways 15, 17 mounted on base 13. A die-holder support 20 slides in vertical grooved tracks, 22, "24 forming a part of guide ways 15, 17. On the cross-bar 14 a hydraulic jack 26 is mounted to operate the sliding support 20 which carries the outer matrix or die 16. v

At the right side of guide-ways 15, 17 (FIG. 1) a ring 30 isprovided for the purpose of supporting the extremity of a header A on which necks are to be formed, the ring 30having three .set screws 31 which adjust the position of header A within the ring. ,Ring 30 is mounted to rotate around, its axis .within brackets 32, 34 guided invertical .grooveways 37, .38 on the uprights 15, 17. The slides 33, 35 are mounted on rods 40 having collars 42 engaged 'jthe punch lllas shown on FIG. 2.

Additional means are provided to support header A .I while permitting its rotation around its axis. These means consist mainly of a sleeve 50 (FIG. 1) having set screw 51 engaging header A. The rotation of sleeve 50 ;within suitable supporting brackets permits header A to -turn around its axis. This rotation can be effected by any suitable means, which are not shown; for instance, through operation by roller bearings or rollers, thrust blocks allowing to immobilize header A in any angular position desired at the point where it is intended to obtain the tube neck.

The apparatus operates as follows;

The end of header A on which a ring of tube necks is to be formed is slipped over the support 12 for punch 10 as shown on FIG. 1. The anvil shape or cantilevering of this support permits slipping the header over punch 10 suiticiently far to ensure that the ring of tube necks when formed will be located at a sufficient distance from the end of header A. The header having been immobilized in the angular position corresponding to that desired for the tube neck, screws 31 are tightened in such manner as to secure the extremity of the header within the ring 30. The wall of the header having been heated at the point where the tube neck is to be obtained, and where a preliminary hole may have been made, die 16 is brought down in a first operation into contact with the outside wall of header A. Then the die 16 coming down through full action of jack 26 moves the end portion of header A by a translation movement further downwards as the ring 30 carried in brackets 32, 34 on slides 37, 38 is depressed against the resistance of springs 44. This has the effect of forcing the header wall onto the punch in such manner that it is pierced and establishes on the header wall by means of punch 10 and die 16 the tube neck intended to be obtained, as shown on FIG. 3.

In this position the extremity of the header which has been treated is depressed by a movement which appreciably should be one of translation where the other extremity of the header is supported by a ring and slide arrangement similar to arrangement 32, 37, 40, or the header may be sufiiciently long to let its other end to simply rest on a support of any kind around which the header executes a large radius rotation.

Once a tube neck is formed, die 16 is raised by jack 26 in order to be returned to its elevated position and springs 44 raising ring 30 bring header A back into the the punch 10. Header A is then turned around .its axis in the desired angle for the formation of the next tube I neck.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming tubular necks .on a hollow cylindrical work-piece by means of a punch and die com prising: a fixed punch disposed in upright relation above the base; means supporting thepunch so arranged that one end portionof the work-piece may be slipped over the punch; amatrix die for cooperating with the punch to form and shape a tubular neck on the work-piece; means for supporting the die above the work-piece and punch; reciprocable means for moving the die down.- wardly on said support to engage itwith the outer wall ofthe work-piece and force the latter onto-the punch to form atubular'neck; a ring support 'for receiving the said end portion of the work-piece; means forlsecuring the work-piece to said ring; and meanslocated in a position axially of thework-piece beyond thepunch and die for mounting said ring for vertical reciprocation with respect to said punch.

2; Apparatus'for forming tubularsnecks on ,a hollow cylindrical work-piece-by means of a punch and die comprising: a base; an upright-secured to the base; a support extending freely over the'base fromesaid upright; a punch disposed in upright relation mounted adjacent the distal end of the tubular-workpiece may benslipped over the punch; a matrix die for cooperating with the punchto. form and shape-a tubular neck on the workpiece; means ;for supporting the die above thetworkepiecesand punc ciprocable means for moving the-diedownwardlyon said supporting means to engagetit withi-ther outer wall of the work-piece and-force thelatter ontov the punch to forma tubular neck; a ring support. receiving the said end portion of the work-piece; means for-securing the work-piece to said ringymeans llocatedzin a. position said support so. that one end portion of 4 axially of the work-piece beyond the punch and die for mountingisaid ring for verticalreciprocatio iill P??? to said punch; and means associated with said ring and its reciprocable mounting means to permit the rotation of said ring to'enable turning of said Worlopiece so as to selectively disposed circumferentially spaced portions of its 'wall between said die and punch for the formation of successive necks thereby.

3. Apparatus for forming tubular necks .011 a hollow cylindrical work-piece by means of a punch and 'diecomprising: a base; an upright secured to the base; a support extending freely over the-base from said upright; a punch disposed in upright relation mounted adjacent the distal end of said; support so that one end portion of the tubular work-piece may beslippedover the punch; a matrix die for cooperating with the punch to form and shape .a tubular neck onthe work-piece; means for supporting ,the diev above, thework-pieceqand punch; re; ciprocable means for moving the die downwardly to engage it with the outer wall of thework piece and force the-,latteronto the punch to format tubularfneck; aringsupport receivingthe said end portion of the work,- piece; means located inla position axiallyof theworklpiece beyond the punch and diefor mounting said ring; means for securing the workpiece to said ring; and means associated with said ring audits-mounting means to permit ,the rotation 1 of, said ring to enable turningiof said work-piece so. as to selectively. disposecircumfe ientially spaced portions of itswall between said die and punch: forthe =formaticniof successivernecks thereby.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS. 

